‘Ultimate goal is to get better at ODI cricket’

Bangladesh are getting back to ODI format after four months, and direct qualification to the ODI World Cup is in focus. Head coach Phil Simmons, however, stated that rather than getting into qualification math, their focus is on getting better in the 50-over format.

The Tigers have lost four of their last five ODI series, and Simmons was keen on playing to a level that their talent allows.

“The ultimate goal is to get better at ODI cricket rather than just focusing on qualification math," Simmons told reporters in Mirpur. 

"Although the team currently lacks some of the experience it had when Bangladesh was at the top of the ODI rankings, the focus is on playing to the level the current talent allows.

“The purpose of the current work is to ensure the team climbs the table. The objective is not just to be an automatic qualifier in the top eight, but to consistently move upward by playing better cricket,” he added.

In the 14-team ODI World Cup next year, Full Member hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the eight highest-ranked Full Members in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027, will make up the 10 direct entrants.

“While the ultimate goal is to reach a higher ranking by the time qualification is determined, the immediate focus is on the quality of play,” Simmons added.

The head coach said that their focus from this series will be on carrying on from where they left off against West Indies at home in October last year, when the Tigers won 2-1. In the final match, three of Bangladesh’s top four were among the runs and, while Simmons wanted those performances replicated, he knew the issues of the middle order, which has been struggling for a while.

“The goal is to build on the progress made during the series against the West Indies. Specifically, the team needs to move to the next step by maintaining the batting performance seen in the final game of that series while addressing weaknesses in the middle overs. Efforts will be concentrated on improving run accumulation in the middle overs and ensuring the bowling unit takes more wickets during that period,” he said.